Colorado House passes rural renewable energy bill

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A Democratic bill doubling the renewable energy standard for rural electric co-ops has turned into one of the most contentious measures of the 2013 session.

Lawmakers say no other bill — even gun legislation — has been debated as long as Senate Bill 252, which increases the renewable energy standard for the state’s second-largest utility and rural electric co-ops with more than 100,000 customers from 10 percent to 20 percent by 2020.

The House passed the measure Tuesday 37-27 after more than three hours of debate — an unusual amount of time for an official vote. Republicans argued the measure kills jobs, while Democrats countered it creates job.

The legislation is opposed by the cooperatives and their wholesale power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.